Patron SaintAnimals and ecology
LifeSaint Francis is one who took the gospel literally by following everything Jesus said and did.
Saint Francis was the son of a rich merchant, he spent his youth pursuing worldly pleasures and military glory. At age 25, as he was praying in the Church of Saint Damien, Jesus spoke to him from the crucifix, “Francis, go and repair my Church, which you see is falling into ruins.”
Thereafter, he began restoring the chapel and giving money and clothes to the poor. His father was furious and demanded his property back. Francis, in front of the Bishop’s palace, stripped himself of his clothes and said, “These clothes are also yours. I have called you father on earth; but now I say; our Father who are in heaven. Barefoot and ragged, he bag a life of penance and prayer, which attracted many followers.
Francis, then ordained a deacon, performed countless miracles and reformed the Church with the example of evangelical poverty and love. To fight the temptations of the flesh, he used to cast himself naked into a thorny bush on summer, and on heaps of snow on winter.
He died at the age of 44 in the Portiuncola, having said to his friars: I have done my part; may Christ teach you to do yours.
Saint Francis’ PrayerLord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
